Treating Post-operative Scars with the Dermapen 3TM

The treatment of post-operative scars has been challenging for most practitioners. I have been impressed with the results using the Dermapen 3TM in combination with other products since the device creates millions of micro-channels in the skin which allows for entry of products into the dermis for better results. Sometimes silicone tapping and steroids with 5FU don’t work so this offers another option.

The Dermapen is the first automatic electric device created in Australia with Advanced Oscillating Vertical Needling (AOVNTM) technology. This allows the pen to glide over the skin with precise automation where speed and depth of penetration can be con-trolled. There are a lot of copy-cat battery operated devices that don’t have this technol-ogy and the power will run out over time, hence the treatment will be subpar. The conditions that can be treated with the Dermapen is growing and I have used it for a lot of these.

I want to talk about using the Dermapen to treat post-operative scarring. What is unique about micro-needling over other modalities is that certain growth factors are produced that are unique with this technique.Aust in 2010 1 did a complicated study and found what makes micro-needling unique from other treatments. What he found was there are certain growth factors that are pro-duced after micro-needling that are not produced with lasers, chemical peels and other procedures that produce heat in the skin. The reason the Dermapen does not injury the epidermis is because transforming growth factor -Beta 3 is increased after8 weeks and this as been shown to be important in scar-free wound healing.Collagen III is responsible for the thicken scars that we see after surgery. Collagen I is present in youthful skin and and increased production with micro-needling causes the skin to tighten and the scar to become finer and thinner.Another great use of the Dermapen and it’s ability to deliver products into the dermis that would not be able to be absorbed. I have been using fat that I harvest from patients to glide the pen. Fat is an amazing substance that has stem cells that I think can be penetrated into the dermis with the pen. I have been using fat to glide the Dermapen when I treat the face and have also been using it on postoperative scars to improve the appearance of the scars. Below is an example of a patient that developed a thickened scar on her left side after an abdominoplasty procedure. Similar results can be expected with Growth Factors if the patients don’t have fat available.

Figure 1. Patient before Dermapen treat-ment of umbilicus and abdominoplasty scar.

Figure 2. Patient immediately after Dermapen treatment using own fat to glide the pen and hence allow penetration of stem cells into dermis. Dept of 1.5 and 1.75 over scar.

Figure 3. One weeks after treatment. No-tice thinning of scar on left, with smoother texture.

Before. After. One week after treatment.References.

Aust, MC et al. Percutaneous collagen induction. Scarless skin rejuvenation. fact or fic-tion? Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2010, 35, 437-9.

Call the Fresno office at 559 440-9024 and schedule your Dermapen treatment.In Oakland call 510 891-1417.